starting a club

[Dave B]

I have to say that my lack of knowledge is why I am asking, so those fo you who are sporting egos easily bruised I mean no attempt at offending you.

The other day I asked about racing and what to wear.

I was informed USA cycling will not allow you to wear any team/club kit in a race if you are not part of the club/team.

SO...what is involved in forming a club? A beginning club. Do you need to register with USA cycling? This is more then likely going to be me and a few buddies, but we are all beginning. While I agree this seems to be about a jersey, I think it would be cool to have an identity and our own unique way to stand out.

I looked into it and no one is sporting a unified S&M kit, so that is an idea, but the leather thing and chains could chafe, so I might keep looking.

While this has started out as fun, I can see some of us getting serious about preparing year after year.

I alos have looked intot he clubs here and the few I am aware of have less then desirable reputations. I will of course keep looking, but I like to be the captain of my own ship and have a little desire to run my own outfit. This is my vanity, but my friends god love them are not terribly organized.

Any thoughts, experiences, advice in how clubs work and how they begin is what I am looking for.

I plan ahead so I am simply gathering info...that is all!

Thanks

Prez

[e-RICHIE]

there's not much to itmo.
navigate the usa cycling site and regsiter a club.
it's about 100-150 a year, i forget atmo.

[Chris]

USAC will have all the information that you need. You will need a group of relatively committed people. A USAC club must put on an event each year. There are ways around that,but for the most part, if you are going to have a club, it has to be somewhat productive. If this is just for you or you and a couple of guys and you don't like the options where you are at, search around. Ask on here if there are any clubs you can join. You can pay your dues, buy the clothing and then compete in that manner. If you take that route, I would suggest that you make some sort of contribution (in lieu of your time) to the club to help with whatever event they promote.

[Big Daddy]

be careful what you wish for...

[e-RICHIE]

A USAC club must put on an event each year.
iirc that is for clubs who want to retain team status only atmo.

[shinomaster]

http://sellwoodcycle.com/s+m.htm

[Chris]

iirc that is for clubs who want to retain team status only atmo.

I stand corrected.

[e-RICHIE]

I stand corrected.
the has to decide if it wants sponsors.
that will make the club a team atmo.

[coylifut]

During the doping debates a couple of years ago swoop suggested starting a club or hosting an event as better use of energy. So, now I'm on the board and have worked big hours supporting 3 day 4 stage race in the middle of no-where. I then started a club. Starting a club = easy. Putting on a stage race = way hard.

Start a club. It's the best way to surround your self with people you really like on and off the bike.

[LegendRider]

How do others handle the money? Do you incorporate (i.e., get a Federal tax ID) so you can open a bank account? If so, do you file taxes annually?

[Chad Engle]

This sounded like fun until some said taxes.

[shinomaster]

During the doping debates a couple of years ago swoop suggested starting a club or hosting an event as better use of energy. So, now I'm on the board and have worked big hours supporting 3 day 4 stage race in the middle of no-where. I then started a club. Starting a club = easy. Putting on a stage race = way hard.

Start a club. It's the best way to surround your self with people you really like on and off the bike.


Cool, what does your new team kit look like?

[nick0137]

Sit down at a kitchen table and write down the names of people you think will join. If you get to 10 then you've got a club to go racing. Call/email those 10 and ask them to call/email anyone else who they think might be interested. You'll have 20 names before you know it. Then get organised. Get a website (easy - someone you know must do that sort of thing), get some kit (finding a reliable supplier is a pain), find a sponsor (a few £s from a local shop is a start), organise and be committed to turning up to some rides (Saturday and Sunday am and one midweek evening), charge a reasonable subscription (we started at £25 a year), register your club with the right organisations (road racing, TT's, maybe tri (if you want to attract female riders)). Final rule - in the UK racing licences are sent to your club so only ever give them out to people who've paid their annual subs.

That's how we started 5 or 6 years ago: www.londondynamo.co.uk

Warning: Last year we have over 350 members.....

[willy in pacifi]

How do others handle the money? Do you incorporate (i.e., get a Federal tax ID) so you can open a bank account? If so, do you file taxes annually?

I have helped three different clubs get the paperwork filed with the CA Sec of State to become incorporated as well as with the IRS to be recognized as a 501c3 tax exempt entity and getting the fed ID number which you will need to open a checking account in the clubs name.

If you are planning for your club to become large this helps with insurance and liability but it comes with the thankless job of someone being the treasurer. It also comes with compliance work such as filing with the state and fed taxing authorities, getting resale certificates, etc.

If it was just a few friends I would skip all the official paperwork of becoming a legal entity.

The big benefit of being an official 501c3 is that you are a tax deductible charity and you may benefit from corporate donations, etc. Of if you plan on putting on a charity ride folks can get a deduction for any entry fee paid directly to your club.

willy in pacifica

[Dave B]

Uhhh...

When you have guys that just wear the same jersey at a race with out a bunch of other stuff and something to do with taxes and emails.

What kind of club is that. :D

I had no idea it was that serious.

[e-RICHIE]

Uhhh...

When you have guys that just wear the same jersey at a race with out a bunch of other stuff and something to do with taxes and emails.

What kind of club is that. :D

I had no idea it was that serious.
it's not that serious.
start a club.
get matching jersies w no sponsor names.
you're a club.
there's a fee to register.
and a cost to buy your clothes.
and you get mates.

the stakes change when sponsors are involved.
over.

[nick0137]

I would skip all the official paperwork of becoming a legal entity.

Yes indeedy. Keep it as an unincoporated association, stick the money in the bank and then live a long time and hope everyone else dies. You're rich.

[Dave B]

it's not that serious.
start a club.
get matching jersies w no sponsor names.
you're a club.
there's a fee to register.
and a cost to buy your clothes.
and you get mates.

the stakes change when sponsors are involved.
over.

Perfect.

That is the zen I was looking for!

That is exactly what I am talking about! I do not want sponsors...well there is this local massage paulor that I have had my eye on, but beyond that. ;)

[Bruce K]

We have a club around here called The Can Crash Cycle Club. There are no dues, no official meetings, but PLENTY of rides - up to 5 days per week.

I believe it started with 2 or 3 riding buddies getting together on a regular basis and bringing a friend along.

We occassionally gather for an annual, soft porn version of a holiday party and a football or baseball night at a local pub.

We have about 40-50 riders on the e-mail list most of whom have some or all of our full kit which currently comes from Champion and generally just have a real good time riding together.

We almost registered as a club with US Cycling in order to race a Masters Team but decided to race under our local US CYcling Team ECV instead.

The bottom line is that I believe all you need to become a US Cycling race club is the name of a President and 1 other club officer and the fee. So I think you could do this with a couple of friends, design and buy some jerseys from someone like Champion with small minimum numbers and you would be good to go.

BK

[swoop]

its like 125 bucks and you have to put on a local event every year. having run a team for a spell all i can say is do it but be prepared to say no to lots of entitled guys living the dream that think they deserve something just because they ride a bike.

all the good sponsorship comes from giving something and realizing that its not about the racing, its about finding value by giving and doing. no one cares about who won some stupid crit... but they do care about people that are motivated to do interesting things within a local community.

[Bruce K]

To repeat....

No event required to be a US Cycling Club, only to be a US Cycling Team.

You can race in your club kit at any US Cycling event.

BK

[LegendRider]

Yes indeedy. Keep it as an unincoporated association, stick the money in the bank and then live a long time and hope everyone else dies. You're rich.

That's the rub - you need a Tax ID Number (i.e. paperwork) to open a bank account (unless you run all the finances thru your personal checking).

[stevep]

That's the rub - you need a Tax ID Number (i.e. paperwork) to open a bank account (unless you run all the finances thru your personal checking).

cash in an envelope works too.

[avalonracing]

That's the rub - you need a Tax ID Number (i.e. paperwork) to open a bank account (unless you run all the finances thru your personal checking).

Find an accountant who rides, give him officer status in the club and let him handle all the money and tax stuff. That's what we did!

[erector]

the first rule of bike club, is that we don't talk about bike club.
the second rule of bike club, is that we DO NOT TALK ABOUT BIKE CLUB.



























we just ride bikes at the bike club

[LegendRider]

cash in an envelope works too.

That's how Sicilian clubs do it, but, here in the States...